was it merely an oversight at the factory, or is this really some kind of mythic witches brew. Requires an average number of relights, and leaves little dampness in the bowl. I don't know any of the ingredient ratios, but I was told that the ratios changed every year to compensate for seasonal changes in the individual ingredients' strength and taste. On the contrary! Exceptionally over-hyped based on the name alone. )which would make this more of an english blend than a Balkan. Of course now it's a matter of reviewing the pouched version by Gallahers (Imperial?) Russia and settled for some time in the Balkans. Just like every other pipe smoker on the planet I really wanted to try this. Not sweet, but not really bitter like some oriental-heavy blends are. I give it a 75. Every bowl. Four stars despite the number of changes that occurred. So they have found J.F. A crowning achievement in the tobacco blending craft without question. This stuff have cool somoke, something light and very rich. The flavor becomes more balanced as you get into the first quarter of the bowl. Its moderately smooth with a very consistent, mildly sweet and savory, lightly floral, very grassy flavor. This pipeweed is certainly an icon and one of the best oriental blends out there. . Once rubbed out I could pretty much gravity feed it into a pipe that is currently dedicated to it - a small to medium sized bent Dunhill shell dublin collector. This is probably the most famous Balkan blend ever. All tobacco is made the old fashioned way. of spice and a mild sweetness. The sad history of Balkan Sobranie after its initial sale, years later, is available in other reviews on this site. Leaves the bowl clean and dry, and leaves a clean refreshed smoky palate. But. It's the smokiest smoke I've ever had. Pease Caravan. This traditional mixture of rich Virginia, Latakia and rare Yenidje tobaccos is Sobranie's oldest blend and offers a mild yet rich taste. A couple of random memories. Smoking the mixture leaves you with what I would call a heavily clouded atmosphere of smoke left in your room that is similar to London Fog. The virginia presents itself in the form of a winelike aroma. It was a little dry so I had to add a little humidor to revive it. No Syrian or Yenidje in it though. Perfectly worth buying here, and wildly overpriced on the secondary market everywhere else. With the history and price tag/availability of this blend came concerns it could be a bit of a letdown but those were swiftly erased almost immediately after lighting my first bowl of Balkan Sobranie. Is this new iteration of the blend worthy of all the hype? The bowl burned downed slowly to a fine ash. The stars are unrelated to this spectacular tobacco. I do not know if this is a result of aging or as it was at that time as I was an avid cigar smoker in those days and never smoked a new tin. Its available at pipesandcigars. Initial smoke is full and sweet, and the mix of latakia and turkish is beautiful. I never thought the day would come and I would open it, but finally given to temptation here I amSo,the tobacco has indeed had quite a bit of age on it, but it was still quite moist and the surrounding paper stained. The Yenidje is noticable. Surprisingly, Sutliff's recreation is close to the original. It's one of those tobaccos that you can't help smoking an immediate second bowl of, and I caught myself doing just that numerous times. 1 in stock. Whatever or however the process, this is the Holy Grail of pipe tobacco. An all day well balanced smoke. I wonder if Balksn Sobranie Smoking Mixture will ever re-emerge in the US of A as Dunhill has recently. Every bowl. $30.00. Bob . This was sampled from a fairly fresh eight year old, 50g Gallaher's pouch back in 2010; This BSOM makes you reach for that elusive, sweetness with each draw. The tobacco is a very different experience than I expected. Germain & Son have experience in "imitating" the House Sobranie products. The taste is medium. In an age where everyone grows up eating McDonalds, stove top stuffing, drinking diet soft drinks and smoking mass produced cigarettes most people wouldn't know quality when they taste it, be that food or smoke. It needs to be dried out quite a bit before smoking. The origins of the Balkan Sobranie blend is somewhat shrouded in mystery. There are so many old blends I'll never get to sample, yet I've managed to fulfill a dream by getting to try this one. This is due to the blend's extremely limited production. For me, this is a very difficult tobacco to review as I don't really have anything to compare it to. Sobranie Black Russian, Sobranie Blacks KS SS White, Sobranie Blue, Sobranie Cocktail, . Peaceable puffing. I have just recently secured a few 50gram packets of "Balkan Sobranie" Original Smoking Mixture. I opened this tin given to me as a gift by dm14 and I thank him for it. Here is what my journey eventually brought me to. Over the past few days, I've had Gaslight, Plum Pudding, Balkan Sasieni, White Knight, Sextant. I think it's both over-hyped and well deserved. This is a pure Turkish smoking experience. Waited a few days until I was off work to try it, opened it up, and found mold growing on it. I do find the 90s version to still be good and similar to the current Germain version, but overall it was a shadow of its former self. Well if they put this in their new age purses, maybe I'll listen. He gives me a pouch of early-90s Sobranie White. Germain's Balkan Sobranie 3-Pack of 50g tins . In the years that followed Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture became a legend. Regardless, it does have a decent nicotine punch, more so then Penzance or Caravan. It was smoked easily until the end of the bowl. We will deny any order we believe has been placed by a minor. If I had plenty of money, I'd have more Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture. Nevertheless, if you palate is not used to the strength of mixtures like the Dunhill my mix 965 and similar, you will not enjoy this blend very much. Being a master, he didn't start me on the kiddie-poo dessert blends like Black&Gold, no, no. I could not smoke this all day, but could smoke 2-3 bowls in a row if this were still obtainable. It is my understanding that the version that I was smoking was not the quality of tins sold in the 1970's. Price: At 4noggins a tin of this new version costs $10.19. Burns at a reasonable pace, cool, clean and moderately smooth with a very consistent, mildly sweet and floral, savory, campfire flavor. IMO, the 70s version, which is the oldest I have smoked, was outstanding. Are there better bl ends? It came in a pouch and in a large tin. Supply < Demand, . Then I happened on a shop in the Rockies while I was on assignment there. But with the addition of straight cyprus Latakia about 33% seems to do the trick a very palatable smoke can be produced this is my tobacco. What I was missing in the 1981 version were the oriental tobaccos that halfway the bowl began to sing the dominant part. I find this blend to be smooth, gentle on the tongue and glorious whe n rolled thru my nose. Once it was in the 90s plastic fold up, the Latakia was more dominate and not due to the blend being less aged. The room glowed with the fullness of the Blend. . If you get your hands on some you are in for a treat! Some reviewers have claimed this to be sharp or harsh and I did not have that result, but it could be due to the age of the tobacco. The last time I smoked the real Balkan Sobranie Original mixture was in Italy 2004 (still produced but not much distributed then). Great result are also obtained smoking for 5-10 minutes and then letting sit for about 12 hours. Note that the Royal Jersey Mixture has some Maryland, and will therefore have tin-aged differently than the others. I believe that now there are better blends of this kind. My choice back in the 70's was the 759 more than the white. I see why this blend commands a premium. by the House of Sobranie and now produced in the Esoterica Tobacciana Also, I'd not get any sweet or earthy notes from the virginia leaf. It only was a matter of time that someone would want to bring out the legend again. Latakia is leading with Oriental/Turkish and Virginia supporting. Although, you may want to let the tobacco dry a bit before smoking. Enjoyed the original many moons ago. Ones ?below? No, Sherlock and his Shag were a couple rows back chugging to the next case, too. I received the full can, but it was open and dry. and Related Accessories to Discerning Cigar and Pipe Smokers From Our I have exceptions to all of the above. I signed up for email alerts thinking it would never happen. The unequalled art of original TBS and 759 is the most perfect ever marriage of the very best Latakia with the very best Orientals in a bed of robust Virginia, delivering an overwhelming palette of aromas. A LEGEND. Quite moist in the tin, it smokes fine directly from the tin but a little drying time is recommended. Specials, and Other News! Finally I was able to secure a tin. I can now fully enjoy Abingdon and any other mixture that I can relate to as my ideal Latakia mixture, my holy grail. It hints at this blend -- maybe it needs more Yenidje?? Perhaps it was the tin that attracted me, the white one with the two women on the front. Rather sweet base, campfire room note. Though I was not accustomed to latakias at the time, I instantly loved it, from the first smell from the can to the last puff. It won?t be easy to find, but it is floating around out there. Notice | Advertising I deem this an excellent, one of the best Balkan blends ever & I'm not a big Latakia fan but it facilitates this blend's sweet, creamy, smoky flavor. Trusted SSL Protection, **All orders over the limit of one or more than one order in a 24 hour period will automatically be refunded.**. Milan Pipe Tobacco Won't bite or get harsh. Being too young to have ever bought this over the counter, I felt I had to try the blend that everyone in the pipe club lamented they could not buy anymore. At that time one never saw a fill in a GBD. Balkan Sobranie White, the finest tobacco I ever encountered. Having said that, I want to be perfectly c lear I DO believe it is a solid tobacco blend worthy of some distinction. It was like a big glorious hit of midnote with some bottom. The brand was originally produced by Sobranie of London in 1920, and became a top-selling brand worldwide. And not unimportant, the topping is also spot on! Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great. Finally, with my Sobranie blended to my satisfaction I jarred it and set out enough to fill my rather large Meerqueen bowl. The female nose is especially not fond of its room note. Strong but never overwhelming, after a bowl of BSOM I felt satisfied enough not to smoke again for a number of hours. I never thought a blend containing Latakia could be enjoyed so much until I smoked The BSOM. Comparisons to Balkan Sasieni are obvious due to the tin art but Sobranie is miles ahead in flavor and depth. There are other options like the mentioned here from Peretti and White Knight , Magnum Opus and others. Simply amazing stuff, and I mourn that it's almost gone. Unfortunately, by now the cigarette industry had turned its unblinking eye upon turkish tobacco, consuming all there was. Given the legendary status of House of Sobranie tobaccos, I'm sure many will be dissapointed but the taste of the re-introduction--heritage and legend aside--makes it a staple for my rotation (at least to the extent that I can find it). Pipe News |, |About Either of these methods do wonders in bringing forward the depth early in the bowl, which is otherwise experienced more toward the bottom. 5 smooth. I've had no luck trying to blend existing blends to emulate the original Balkan. It finishes, of course, full and strong. I simply do not like cigarettes and the foul smell and taste of such tobacco! His life experience was invaluable to me in many ways. Moisture content is great. I first got in to this when I was 19. Overall: A classic Balkan that I hope someone re-introduces again in its original form. What else can I say about this blend that hasn?t already been said? In my book this blend scores 5 points out of 5, which equates to 4 well deserved stars. BALKAN refers to the Greek Macedonian yenidze [ jenidze, yenidje, etc.] Free 877-70MILAN (64526) [email protected] Super smooth, blended perfectly. Whatever or however the process, this is the Holy Grail of pipe tobacco & if I could even come close to another blend that was as tasty as the BSOM, I'd be a happy camper for sure. The "Next" Balkan Sobranie is the blend that you and everyone else smoked and enjoyed but you all decided not to purchased in large quantities. Maybe the preparation or selection of red & brown Virginias topped off with tasty Yenidje? Initial Flavor: Pungently sweet! Better! The virginias are of the higest grade. I got my hands on a 25+ years old tin that needed rehydration. A cool and long-lasting smoke. This is really your most fowl smelling tobacco! Nevertheless to me it's still a high quality tobacco. Cheers! Aging will do wonders to this I'm sure. Likewise akin to Smokers' Haven's Krumble Kake and Esoterica's Penzance in flavor and strength, but like comparing a profesional ice skater to a hockey player. Not sure what to say but it nothing like the original and there are FAR better quality pipe blends than this. She doesnt always have it in stock though. This stuff tasted so good in fact, it makes me ponder; How does a tobacco blend that tastes this good, be made without a topping or a flavor additive? They've been sold out. I am puzzled about availability. Pipe Tobacco I don't know, but it should be among the top five. Tobaccos Indian Outlaw (Virginias and Cavendish) Rated 5.00 out of 5 It contains Virginia, Syrian Latakia and eastern Tobaccos. If you have a chance to try some, by all means, do it. It's got a nice beat, and I can dance to it - even if it's a slow dance over in a dark corner. It does have an interesting history. Policy | Terms Smokers are delighted in its medium-to-robust body, incense-like aroma and satisfying taste. My only gripe is that 70% of the blends that I smoke are made by Germain and most of them are almost impossible to come by. This is fact for both, The Balkan Sobranie and the 759 Mixture. It was a little dry so I had to add a little humidor to revive it. If all this good smoke is coming from the tobaccos alone, that's incrediblealmost magical! I wish I could. Thoroughly enjoyable and deserves a quiet hour or so to smoke it and really enjoy it. 10 it became kind of the Holy Grail of the pipe tobaccos. Still Fresh, Purchased From: Pipestud's Consigment Shop. Be The First To Know About Exclusive Products And Deals! Requires few relights, and leaves little dampness in the bowl. Anybody out there game? The taste is silky, rich, complex. For a very broad reference I would say it is somewhere between Esotericas Penzance and G.L. Latakia plays a front role but is not overwhelming. , Dont Buy It If You Arent GoingTo Smoke It, When can we have the goods? Pipe: GBD Bull Moose, group 3 bowl Cut: rubbed out, moisture on the perfect side of dry. Notes: Presently, the best readily available production/date information is per John C Loring's "DATING ENGLISH TINNED TOBACCO", 1999: 1970s: (and prior) Sobranie Limited, Sobrainie House 1970s: (briefly) Sobranie Limited, 17 Worship Street 1970s: (late) Sobranie Limited, Chichester Road 1980s: (early) Sobranie of London, 65 Kingsway 1980s: Sobranie of London, 34 Burlington Arcade 1990s: Sobranie of London, 13 Old Bond Street. The leaf was long and stringy - like seaweed. Burns to fine white ash. Really great because you can taste the love and craftsmanship. Sutliff: Balkan Sobranie Original Mix Match Pipe Tobacco Product Number: 005-443-0347 Sutliff's Balkan Sobranie Original Mix Match combines sweet Virginias, Latakia, and Macedonian Orientals for a familiar smoke based on the classic, time-honored blend. Add to Wishlist. There were many very nice old Dunhill and GBD pipes along with about 50 odd assorted tins of aged tobacco. In my honest opinion the best choice that they could have made! It's taste was definitely much better than it's smell, full-bodied and smoky, and the room note was not too aggressive, there's somewhat of a "tang" to it, but you could easily smoke it unnoticed in a group of cigarette smokers. !Thats my opinion.Exellent in all respects. Its post-modern re-incarnation, BALKAN SASIENI, is the same mix, yet not the same mix at all: the grade of tobaccos and the proportions may be the same, but modern-day orientals seem to be blander, more generic than formerly, and the Cypriot ?latakia?, a nice tobacco in itself, is like California ?chablis? From 1962-63 through 1978 when I stopped smoking a pipe regularly, my tobacconist sent me two 8 ox tins of Balkan Sobranie each month and that included my tour in Vietnam in 1967-68. Happy Smoking! The unflavored soda note from the yenidje is virtually missing. The smell is very unusual but pleasant at the same moment. Whatever or however the process, this is the Holy Grail of pipe tobacco. Judging by the crystals that encase the leaf, the blend had a good amount of natural sugars. Hope to increase production, now the demand is far greater than supply!!! Not so heavy, incredibly smooth tobacco, giving a gentle sweetness and a dry, salty smoking that reminds me of Syrian Latakia.It was smoked easily until the end of the bowl. I could tell it was loaded with my beloved Syrian Latakia and something else I might have tasted just the barest hint of in Balkan Sasieni, probably the Yenidje. I left out room note as I lived alone at that time. On one hand I was glad I did, on the other I was sad because it was one of the few sachets circulating all over the world. Sampled from a fairly fresh 50g pouch of the Gallaher version that was eight years old when purchased back in 2010. Not a terribly expensive blend, so value is not really a concern. Now it seems to follow the path outlined by Balkan Sasieni, since it looks like that more and more: same cut, same colour, almost same taste. Sampled from a fairly fresh 50g pouch; This BSOM makes you reach for that elusive flavor with each draw. | Sitemap, J.J. Fox Provost Mixture Pipe Tobacco Tin - 50g, J.J. Fox Squires Mixture Pipe Tobacco Tin - 50g, Robert Lewis Wingfield Mixture Pipe Tobacco Tin - 50g, Sutliff Balkan Sobranie 759 Match Pipe Tobacco, Balkan Sasieni Original Formula Pipe Tobacco. Without question this was the most anticipated tin I have ever opened. escaped her lips. I myself reproduced the old artwork (tin and insert-card) and e-mailed that to Arango and Germain. It's no hype when it comes to this blend. Most of the time, I like stronger blends over weaker ones and in larger pipes than smaller ones. Well, it was one of the most pleasant, smooth and complex mixtures I've ever smoked. It is not nearly as heavy with Latakia that Penzance is, nor is it quite as creamy regarding the mouth feel although there's some. However, the guys at Ed's Original Tinderbox in Santa Monica hooked me up with their Balkan blend. The Balkan Sobranie tobacco business was established in London in 1879 by Albert Weinberg (born Romania 1849), whose naturalization papers dated 1886 confirm his nationality and show that he had emigrated to England in the 1870s at a time when hand-made cigarettes in the eastern European and Russian tradition were becoming fashionable in Europe. More recently Balkan Sobranie has reappeared, produced by S. F. Germain for persons having the legal right to the Sobranie name. I withhold most further details of the shop on the unlikely chance I can return someday and the remaining tin will be up there on the top shelf, having once been stuffed back to make room for more recent things. And yesss, halfway the bowl the oriental tobaccos (I think Kavalla) are coming to the front. I was really interested in buying some, seeing how hard it was to come by. Very close to what I remember, perhaps Ed Klopin Sr. wanted to duplicate the mix. It is quite close to the original Sobranie, although like Balkan Sasieni it uses generic oriental rather than Yenidje. This blend consists of dark brown and black ribbons in the pouch along with a few flecks of tan. Out of stock. For those who appreciated the soggy aged Virginia note, try Germain's King Charles Mixture, Royal Jersey Latakia Mixture, or Esoterica's And So To Bed. Peaty and earthy, briny, peppery and a little bitter, leaves a dry sensation on the tongue and a smoky mineral aftertaste. I LOVE IT! It was new and perfect one ! The last of my tins went up in fragrant smoke recently. Its ash is light and gray, without noticeable cake. And I see no difference after the update and stuff. The above review doesn't cover the current version. It's a sweet and smoky treat. Yesterday I opened my last remaining pouch of the 1994 Sobranie Mixture, to see whether it would bring back memories. Very evenly cut short ribbon pieces, and a bit of dust at the bottom which I assume is from being dried out for a period of time. It's a "Turkish cigarette" (Oriental blend) which means there's nothing in it but Oriental tobacco. Again the Latakia had a tendency to separate but with a thorough mixing it is much improved of you stay vigilant! Hard to find but worth the wait. Germaine is producing some of the finest tobacco available and this is no exception. I can only imagine how good the original issue was; I smoked it in my college days (1970s) and also smoked the Sobraine-made Smokers' Haven blends (which I still smoke in their Germain incarnation) but the taste memory has faded over the years. Low and behold a yahoo mail message pops up at the top of my screen saying its in stock on Friday the 13th. My favorite came with a black label and I think it was called Mixture #759. Original Review 12-25-11 This review is for the newly released J.F. The subtle interplay between the Orientals and the Latakia along with the suspected aged virginias became sublime.as well as whatever word denotes that which is greater than sublime. Hours of Operation: Our website is always open and you can place an order at any time. I'm going to try to find a steady source for this, but can't afford to shell out the $25/pouch I gave for these. Still a great tobacco, notwithstanding all the evil that the companies that have manufactured it have made to worsen it.